The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-11-19


him to this spot and enabled him
to, perhaps, be of some assistance.
Then / found words, and when
he left me to visit my father, /
found myself awaiting his return
with calm assurance that, could
mortal aid avail him, he would find
it in DR.. Melrose's healing touch.
A half hour elapsed before his re-
turn, and when he entered the room
/ knew might hope.
"It is not SO bad as l feared" he
said. "Time and careful nursing
will soon restore him. The latter l
shall entrust to you"
Then he gave me his directions so
clearly that l could not misunder-
stand them, and when he bade me
goodbye, holding both my hands
for moment in his own, and said,
"you must take care Of yourself as
well, and not give me two patients
instead of one," he smiled SO kindly
that l felt my heart leap as I
thought
at is for Maud's sake he has done
this thing. He loves her."
1t did not seem strange that she
should have won the heart of a man
as high in the worlds favor as Err
nest Melrose stood. 1t would not
have seemed strange to me had she
won the best man in the world, in
my eyes she might have graced the
throne.
So I wrote her Of his visit, and of
its wonderful results how father
improved day by day, and how,
with health, came hope and courage
so that soon the clouds would scat
ter, and we should have her home
again.
But she answered, begging me
never to think of her except as hap
py-that in Mrs. Marvin she found
n second mother, and in her work
only pleasure.
She rarely mentioned DIR. Melrose's
name, but l could understand why
she was silent.
So the winter passed. Two or
three times the doctor came to re-
lieve its monotony. My parents
grew to welcome him as a friend,
and l, in my heart as brother, for
l felt sure 1 had guessed the secret
of his love for Maud.
He talked of her SO constantly,
telling me how bravely she did her
duty, and how her beauty of char
acter exceeded the charm of her face
and form.
We looked to him almost as our
deliverer, for fathers health and
vigor were at last restored but
when we asked him for his bill, he
laughingly replied;
"That was private matter with
Miss Maud. She is to settle that"
My father looked amazed, but 1
could appreciate the payment DR..
Melrose would accept, and imagine
their surprise when he demanded it
at their own hands.
Yes, l was certain that Maud was
the prize which DR.. Melrose had in
his mind. One day, when my faith
er was seated in a corner of the sofa,
and 1 at his side, l was about to
speak of my suspicious /; but I fear
ed the subject might disturb him,
so 1 wisely deferred.
The summer was rapidly ap-
preaching the time for Maud's
coming home was at hand.
With a glad, happy heart decor
ated our room with the rose she so
loved, hung the fresh muslin cur
tains from the windows, looped
them back with sprays of flowers,
all the while singing aloud in my
joy.
had reason to be happy, for
Maud was coming to a home over
which hung no shadow of debt. The
mortgage had been paid. What she
had saved should go toward her
trousseau when she needed one, for
father had prospered beyond all ex-
pectation.
At last / heard the sound of
wheels. Nearer and nearer they
came. Isprang down stairs to meet
her, caught sight of the carriage
coming rapidly up the drive, and
saw her smile of welcome, and saw
that she was not alone.
81 will bring you a surprise" she
had written, and by her side sat DIR.
Melrose.
knew it all. Was it not as I
pictured, fancied, hoped2 1 only
know that an impulse which sprang
from one corner of my being caused
me to turn hastily up the stairs, and
burying my head in my pillow, sob
bed aloud.